BrushCo Farms reps tout temp housing

By Katie Collins Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer

Posted:
05/24/2016 09:08:46 AM MDT

Updated:
05/24/2016 09:09:19 AM MDT

A Monday night meeting of the Brush Planning Commission may not have enticed many citizens to come forward and address the possibility of allowing temporary worker housing to be established in Brush industrial zones, but the potential passing of such an ordinance was enough to bring more than a few Mastronardi Produce representatives to travel the distance for a talk about their own interests in seeing the city code amended. The proposed ordinance, which came before the Brush City Council for a vote on Monday, May 23 after a second public hearing slated for 6 p.m. in council chambers, would provide several amendments to the Brush Municipal Code, to allow the construction of temporary housing for workers to be built near company sites in industrial zones. The proposal proves vital for one particular Brush-based business, as BrushCo Farms, under the umbrella of parent companies Mastronardi/Sunset Produce, the large area producer of fruits from hydroponically grown tomatoes, who has struggled to retain workers for the greenhouse conditions which entail a temporary, 10-month season, humid conditions and hard work with delicate plants.Mastronardi Produce, founded in 1954 and based in Ontario, Canada, has operated similar worker housing options in growing and distribution locations, including Kingsville, Ontario; Sombra, Ontario; Livonia, Michigan; Salinas, California; Lakeland, Florida; Maroa, Michigan and Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and hopes to do the same in Brush to entice workers more used to the seasons, hours and conditions, with some possibly coming through the H2A Visa program, of which Colorado has had 26 company applications for use of.

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“I’m here to ask support of the proposed ordinance, as it would allow BrushCo Farms to build attractive, modular housing for farm workers,” noted Mastronardi Vice President of Human Resources Dale Reeson, who travelled from Detroit, Michigan to confer with Brush Planning Commissioners. “And not just workers hired through the H2A program, but for any who might be in need or enticed to stay with on-site housing.”According to Reeson, as well as BrushCo Farms attorney Eric Jorgenson of the Denver-based firm Collins Cockrel and Cole, owner Paul Mastronardi has a soft spot for the Brush greenhouse, which sits under 18-acres of glass on a 74-acre property, and has invested $3 million in its operations thus far, with the hiring of 19-year Brush residents and Belgium-born green thumb extraordinaire Leo de Groof and wife Mariane as managers being one of the most fortuitous.For nine years now, Mastronardi has retained the greenhouse, which requires 73 workers to run, with 38 in the greenhouse, 38 in the pack house and five in management. However, enticing and mostly retaining workers without offering residence, has been an uphill battle. “Some people last only one hour, and they leave before even doing a thing,” de Groof said during a past work session of the Brush City Council. “As soon as many see someone with experience with the plants, they turn and walk away. People simply aren’t used to physical labor anymore,” he continued with dismay. “That’s why offering more money isn’t always the factor.” “We grew up in the dirt and know what work means,” he stated, adding that the situation has gone south the past three years, and that, “These days, if you tell people they can’t carry their cell phone, they’ll leave. Some leave due to food safety, as they aren’t willing to wear a hair net.” With the BrushCo Farms greenhouse producing eight million pounds of fruit annually, and 98 percent of that remaining in Colorado and shipped locally, the greenhouse has served to drive the local economy, employing not just greenhouse farm workers, but also the drivers, transportation workers, shop owners, store clerks and distribution employees. In October of 2015, Mastronardi and BrushCo Farms turned to the City of Brush for help and proposed locating dormitory housing on their property, however the Brush City Codes did not allow for such plans. The ordinance discussed on at last week's meeting was developed with no public input but was rather put together by city staff, with help from City Attorney Bo Chapin and Planning Director Martin Landers of Plan Tools, to see what things would look like if such housing were allowed. According to project lead and City Assistant Administrator Karen Schminke, three primary objectives were developed from planning, including 1) Not to duplicate standards found in other applicable rules, 2) to establish minimum standards for such a site and the buildings to ensure safety and sanitation and 3) to allow for site-specific reviews of any proposals to take advantage of the option to build. Upon hearing from Mastronardi representatives, City of Brush staff, Planning Commissioners and from BrushCo Farms lead growers and mangers Leo and Mariane de Groof, the commission officially approved to direct council to adopt the ordinance as is, complete with many details of specifics that include site area requirements, regulations for setbacks, safety, sewer, sanitation, roads, water supply, fire protection, utilities and trash collection, animals, spacing, on-site management and rules to abide by for renewing annual permits and for applying in and of itself. The ordinance went back in front of the Brush City Council this week during their regular session, where a public hearing was held before council decides to adopt the ordinance as is, adopt it with changes, or not adopt it at all, upon first reading. Should it pass, the ordinance will allow companies and entities such as BrushCo Farms to fill out a special use permit that adheres to the newly amended code.

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